Sports

So overwhelming

LET’S PLAY CHESS - Edgar De Castro - The Philippine Star

April 10, 2017 | 12:00am

By the time this issue runs off, the US Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, will have been in its final stages.

Wesley So and Varuzhan Akobian registered contrasting victories to share the lead with six points after the ninth round at the St. Louis chess club and scholastic center.

So trounced teenager Jeffrey Xiong, clinching the victory with a daring Queen sacrifice, while Akobian banked on a time-pressure blunder to beat top-seeded Fabiano Caruana.

Veteran Alexander Onischuk outplayed third-seeded Hikaru Nakamura to take solo third at 5.5, with two rounds remaining in the $194,000, 12-player, single round robin tournament.

* * *

The yearly Zurich Chess Challenge, a major event in the European circuit, gets underway on April 12 at the Hotel Savoy in Zurich, Switzerland.

Named in honor of Swiss world-class player Victor Korchnoi, the eight-GM field will be led by former world champions Vishy Anand (India) and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia. Also included were American Hikaru Nakamura, the defending champion, Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, Israeli Boris Gelfand, Grigorly Oparin (Russia) and local GM Yanneck Pelletier.

A strong open tournament will take place alongside the major event.

* * *

The following game was considered the endgame gem of the tournament. Black executed his endgame plan without trouble.

2017 US Championship

W) Y. Zherebukh

B) V. Akobian

French Defense

1. e4 e6

2. d4 d5

3. Nd2 c5

The famous Tarrasch Variation, which the great German master Seigbert Tarrasch advocated more than a century ago. Black accedes to an early isolated d pawn in return for free piece play, resulting in rich possibilities for both sides.

4. exd5 Qxd5

4...exd5 is most popular here and after 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. 0-0 Ne7 9. Nb3 Bd6 10. Nbd4 0-0, White has a slight edge.

5. dxc5 ...

5. Ngf3 is the standard continuation leading to a slightly better game for White. E.g. 5...cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4.

5... Nf6

6. Ngf3 Qxc5

7. Bd3 Nbd7

8. 0-0 Qc7

9. Qe2 Nc5

10. Bc4 Bd6

11. b3 a6

12. a4 b6

13. Bb2 Bb7

14. Rfd1 0-0

15. Bxf6 ...

Seems premature. 15. h3 is the engine’s choice which appears to be quite even after 15...Rfd8 16. Ne5 Ne4.

15... gxf6

16. Qe3 Bf4

17. Qc3 f5

18. Bf1 Rac8

19. b4 ...

After 19. Be2 Bh6 20. Qe5 Bg7 Black gains the upper hand because of his two bishops.

19... Ne4

Forcing the exchange of queens, which leaves White with weak Q-side pawns.

20. Qxc7 Rxc7

21. Nc4 Rb8

22. Nxb6 Rxc2

23. Nd7 Rbc8

24. Bd3 Rb2

25. Bxe4 fxe4

26. Rd4? ...

The decisive mistake. Also inferior according to the engine is 26. Nf6ch Kf8 27. Ng5 Ke7 28. Ngxe4 Bxe4 29. Nxe4 Rxb4 30. Ng3 Rc2 31. Nf1 Rbb2. Or 26. Nfe5 Bg5 27. Nc5 Rxb4 28. Nxb7 Rxb7 29. Rab1 Rxb1 30. Rxb1 Rc2 31. Kf1 e3 32. fxe3 Bxe3 33. Ng4 Bd4, when Black has a clear advantage.

26... f5!

27. Rad1? exf3 0:1

Winding up the game in elegant fashion. If 29. Rxd2 Rc1ch and mate next move, and 29. Rd4 is punished by 29...Rxd4 30. Rxd4 Rc1ch.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to play and win.

White=Kg1, Qd4, Re5, Rh3, Bd3, Pa5, Pb4, Pc2, Pg4, Ph2 Black=Kg8, Qf4, Rc6, Rf8, Be8, Pa6, Pb5, Pd5, Pe5, Pg6

1. Rh8ch! 1:0

If 1...Kxh8 (or 1...Kg7 2. Qxf4 Rxf4 3. Rxe8 and wins)

2. Rh5ch Kg8 3.Qh8ch Kf7 4. Rh7 mate.